John Kerry shares 'deep concern' with Mahmud Abbas, Benjamin Netanyahu

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State John Kerry shared his "deep concern" over spiraling violence between Israelis and Palestinians during telephone calls with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and president Mahmud Abbas, his office said Saturday.

Kerry "stressed the importance of upholding the status quo in word and deed at the al-Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount and of preventing inflammatory rhetoric and actions that will increase tensions," a statement said.